Unit 10 Ode to Public Transportation
A Famous Quote:
Plain living and high thinking.
– William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth (1770-1850), one of the greatest English poets. He was
a leader of the romantic movements in England and one of the greatest lyric poets in the history of English literature.
Text A: The Importance of Public Transportation
Pre-reading Questions:
1. Do you find it important to use public transportation? What are some of the
reasons? 2. What suggestions do you give to others on using public transportation?
A US Congressman once proclaimed that, “There can be no doubt that the transportation sector is the most critical sector of our economy.” I know exactly what he means. In this day and age, access to transportation is considered a necessity.
Public transportation is defined as a service that is available for use by the general public. It is a cheaper and environmentally friendly alternative. It is not a transportation service that you can arrange privately to suit your own personal convenience (although you may, to a certain extent, such as paying for cabin or suite on a train or ship) since you have to consider other passengers who are riding and making similar arrangements with you.
I have experienced first-hand how important public transportation is. I live in Saipan, a US territory and the closest things we have to public transportation are tourist and school buses. You have to have your own car or bike, rent a car, or pay upfront for a taxi to go from point A to point B. Otherwise you end up basked in a sweat and sunburn traveling to work every day. When I first came here, I walked. I walked going to and from work. I walked to the store and lugged my heavy groceries back to the house. I walked to church and I barely got to places farther than a twenty-mile radius from my house since I did not own a car then, and I considered renting a car and riding a taxi such an expense for a starting single mother like I was at that time.
For me, public transportation is very important because of the following
reasons:
1. It saves money.
According to research done by American Public Transportation Association, individuals can save up to $9,515 annually by parking their cars at home and using public transportation instead. In this economy, saving money become a main concern in most households. With the rising prices of fuel and other vehicle-related expenses, doing the public commute to work and school certainly saves money.
2. It helps the environment.
When you switch from driving your car to taking public transport, you are reducing your carbon footprint and making a great step forward in saving the environment. The environmental costs of individuals using their cars every day has done massive damage to the environment and if the majority or all individuals like you and me use public transport instead, think of what good we could do for the environment.
3. It will wean us out of energy dependence.
According to a paper made by Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue and Dr. Claude comtois, transportation accounts for approximately 25% of world energy demand and for more than 62%of all the oil used each year. Ninety-five percent of transportation is almost completely reliant upon petroleum products with the exception of railways using electrical power. While the use of petroleum for other economic sectors, such as industrial and electricity generation, has remained relatively stable, the growth in oil demand attributed to the growth in transportation demand.
When we strengthen our public transportation services, we are consequently lessening this oil demand and dependence. It will also motivate us to consider alternative energy and fuel resources.
4. It provides ease and convenience.
Having public transportation definitely eases some of the burdens of people who do not have cars or prefer no to own one. They are provided with choices to use public transport. Public transportation also provides valuable services not just to local inhabitants in the area but to tourists as well. When a tourist visits a place, which does not have public transportation, their choices are limited and the experience they get is limited, too.
All in all, public transportation improves our way of life, strengthens the community, provides new jobs for the public and gives us a cleaner environment.
Text B: Personal Advantages of Taking Public Transportation
Pre-reading Questions:
1. Do you prefer public transportation or driving?
2. What advantages do you expect the author will give for taking public
transportation?
When I take public transport, I always end up seeing a balanced view of regular folks, which is different from how they’re usually depicted in the profit-driven media. I meet real, authentic people who may have the same concerns as mine. Whenever I’m on a bus, or the train, or even at times in a taxi that I share with other passengers, whom the driver picks up along the way, I get assurances that most folks mean well to me, i.e., they don’s mean to harm me intentionally, despite a few terrible, harsh experiences I’ve had with some bad people before.
The meaningful experience of receiving respect from and giving respect to others
People generally behave as politely and respectfully as they can whenever they take public transportation. That’s how all of us were taught, by and large, by our parents, our elders and the generations before. We always need to conduct our best selves when in public. It’s a great experience seeing able-bodied men giving up seats for the elderly, disabled, or pregnant women. I even see women give up seats to others. I see people smiling and talking with each other. I feel more warmth among people when on a bus or the train. I see people behaving genuinely pleasant toward co-passengers, and I realize it takes a lot of guts to do this especially during there difficult times.
Save cash or other purposes
I always get the opportunity to save money, and am actually gaining pennies these days. This is particularly true when you live in a city, like New York, where subways and buses are in place. I’ve done the math: it’s far cheaper to take the subway and then bus, plus the ferry if you live in Staten Island like me, than to keep a car and drive yourself to your usual destination. You save on the parking fees, the toll fees, the insurance cost, the repair and maintenance costs, and the perceived costs of aggravation from motorists on the road, the fuel, among other costs. On public transportation, you simply just pay the fare.
Light baggage to bring with you
I just carry myself and my tiny baggage. I occupy the least space, which is actually wherever I happened to be standing or sitting, which contributes to my
baggage being very economical and lighter to carry. If ever there would be untoward incidents while in transit, I’d always be assured that I only have myself to worry about, which is unlike when you’re in your car. If an accident happens while you are in your car, you will be doubly aggravated because you will have to keep tabs on things other than yourself (who, by then, may be extremely anxious or even, may the Lord-forbid, in a worst situation).
Strong push for long-term environmental projects
I am confident that I contribute more to efforts in sustaining and keeping a much cleaner environment. Motorists always have to consider that they actually are contributing more to accumulated environmental damage when they use fossil-sourced fuel for their cars. Those who are concerned about the environment, especially policymakers, leaders and managers, might as well heed this by taking the chance to take public transportation if time allows them. Their followers will eventually get the message: You’ll be contributing more to saving what’s left of our habitat by keeping away from using less of the natural resources.
Movement and exercise
I get the chance to do my exercises waling from my place to the bus stand (or the subway station, or the ferry station). I actually feel a much healthier me whenever I take public transportation.
Come, join me and everyone else taking public transportation.
自考英语二（新版） 原文 Unit 10 Ode to Public Transportation
